1971 Football Team (2013)

1) What are your fondest memories from the 1971 Football team? What did you take from being a part of that team?
I think that football team put West Vigo on the map!
– Tom Mathias

South win…with the safety…hard work with results!
As far team goes, the competitiveness, hard work, teamwork. they were family…no animosity…everyone had role to play, proud of that…defense had pride in themselves… –Coach Krischak

Fondest memories from the 1971 Football Team:
As a sophomore. I was a member of what we were called the “Hamburger Squad”. We scrimmaged the varsity team getting them ready for the next game. My brother Bob “Bear” was the starting right tackle. The coaches had me practice on the opposite end of the line so I wouldn’t have to face my brother one on one. Although I was smaller than him I was able to hold my own in practice. The only play that I feared the most was the right tackle pull, this I was caught several times with my brother baring down on me with a full head of steam. He had a smile as big as the Grand Canyon knowing that he was about to lay down the boom on me. This made us more than brothers but also friends then and still today. I took away from being a part of this team on how we always looked out for each other as teammates and friends for life.
-David Switzer

My fondest memory was enjoying the jubilation sparked by our 2-0 win over Terre Haute South on a rainy, cold, muddy battlefield. As I watched the competition heat-up and the intensity rage, I stood amazed as our defense arose time and time again to thwart South’s high octane offense from scoring. This battle was our David versus Goliath, and though our warriors dripped with sweat and blood and their bodies where rocked with pain, they never weakened in the face of adversity; it was at that moment I knew we were something special. What I took away was it was an honor and privilege to compete on a team fortified with a very special group of seniors who instilled in all of us a determined sense of pride and commitment toward achieving success no matter the cost. Due to their encouragement, “no fear” philosophy, and courageous commitment to achieve success beyond the scope of our size and physique, I left West Vigo with an enormous degree of confidence and commitment toward team spirit which served me well throughout a spectacular and highly successful military career. I will forever be indebted to this very special and wonderful group of seniors whose leadership was unparalleled. -Tom Scott

Bar none…the benches at Greencastle were the best!
– Mike Callahan
FONDEST MEMORIES: THE 2-0 WIN AND CROWD AGAINST SOUTH. SHOWING THE TERRE HAUTE PRESS WHO WAS THE BEST TEAM IN THE VALLEY.
HAVING A FEW OF THE SENIORS TALK TO US ON ENJOYING THE TIME YOU GET TO PLAY. PRACTICE HARD BECAUSE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOUR TIME PLAYING BALL WOULD SOON COME TO AN END.AFTER IT’S ALL OVE, YOU WILL MISS IT MORE THAN YOU WOULD EVER REALIZE –
-Bob Barton

The classes of 72 and 73 liked and respected each other, not only on the football, but also after school activities. An athletic director that truly supported us, a coaching staff that taught with the right attitude and their scouting reports helped prepare us.
The importance of working as a team. I used this thought throughout my working career, both as a worker and supervisor. – Matt Stark

The camaraderie of the team from upperclassmen to the freshman and sophomores. There appeared to be a closeness and a support of each other that contributed to the success of that team. Good leadership by the coaching staff and the players. I also feel that a valuable lesson was learned that year…that we might not have been the largest nor the most highly skilled team, but that we had a toughness and worked well together…that we never felt we did not belong on the field with teams larger in size, reputation, or numbers of players etc. This team competed regardless of what challenges were in front of us. Good lessons to learn as adults! Was very proud to have participated on teams before the Class sports philosophy took over. – John Hennette
My fondest memory is throwing two touchdown passes against Terre Haute North before my sixteenth birthday.
– Bob Woolley

My fondest memory of the 1971 season was beating my hometown, Clinton, 79-0. We were ahead at halftime 40-0 and decided to not play the first team on offense. The defense scored 39 points in the second half. When asked by my friend and Clinton coach, “you kind ah run up the score didn’t you coach?” I said, “I thought that holding our score was your job, coach.” We never practiced on Thursday, we didn’t have to – Coach Bennett